Moord op journaliste overschaduwt vrijhandelsbespreking met Poetin (en)

The killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya overshadowed Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to Germany, grabbing attention from the original agenda on creating a free trade zone with the EU.

The Russian president arrived in Germany on Tuesday (10 October) on a two-day trip which was overshadowed by Sunday's killing of the Russian journalist in Moscow, which has sparked strong EU and US concern over press freedom in Russia.

The Russian president was greeted by protesters with cheers of "murderer, murderer" in the Eastern German city Dresden, amid speculation the Kremlin was involved in the killing of the 48-year old reporter known for her frequent criticism of Mr Putin's policies.

The issue figured prominently in a joint press conference of the Russian president and German chancellor Angela Merkel, with the German leader saying that "The Russian president has again made it clear that everything will be done to clear up this murder."

The Russian president said the killing of Ms Politkovskaya was an "abominable crime" which should "not go unpunished" - his most outspoken comments on the case so far.

His visit coincided with Ms Politkovskaya's funeral in Moscow the same day, which was attended by thousands of well-wishers as well as EU and US ambassadors, Russian media report.

Tension ahead of Lahti summit

But the Russian leader also tried to play down the importance of the reporter's influence.

"I think that journalists should know, and experts should understand, that her ability to influence political life in Russia was extremely insignificant," he said.

"The killing inflicts much greater damage to the government than any of her writing," he added.

The affair also risks overshadowing an EU leaders' meeting next week in Finland to which Mr Putin has been invited by the Finnish EU presidency which is eager to boost the bloc's ties with Moscow.

Finnish president Tarja Halonen said she hopes the case could be cleared before Mr Putin attends the summit.

The Finnish president, normally known for her positive views on the development of Russian democracy, said "I hope that two things can be achieved in Russia through different means. One is respect for different opinions and the other is strengthening the rule of law, so that people can be safe," according to Finnish press reports.

Free trade zone

But the fresh confidence crisis with European capitals did not keep Mr Putin from mooting far-reaching proposals for strengthening relations with the EU - on Tuesday he supported the idea of a free trade zone in an interview with German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

"Representatives of the European Commission have called for a free trade zone between the EU and Russia," he said despite the commission not having officially tabled the plan.

"We regard this as very important and view it positively," he said.

Asked whether the plan could go in parallel with German ideas to create an EU free trade zone with the US - not Russia - he again reiterated that Brussels not he himself had come up with the idea.

"As I said this was not our idea, but the idea of the European Union."

Criticising Brussels for its unclear stance on the matter, he said "This is a typical problem of the EU. The EU should first make clear what its priorities are. But I believe the one [free trade zone] does not exclude the other."

One impediment for an EU-Russia free trade scheme is the fact that Moscow is not yet a full member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with Washington only wanting to give its consent to WTO membership if concerns over intellectual property rights and meat exports are cleared.

The EU is meanwhile drafting a revised, less ambitious new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Moscow which has trade ties as one key element.